Process and machine for refrigeration



Dec. 25

w. STEWART PROCESS AND MACHINE FOR REFRIGERATION Filed May 16. 1921 4Sheets-Sheet 1 ra 0u 5 6 @w114 j a .051 l. 7 l r @u f i /f w/ a 1 n a wl.w L l, M y M w w i Wu 00.000 z M .w a M@ w. STEWART i PROCESS ANDMACHINE FOR REFRIGERATION Filed 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 mgm 1921 4Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 16,

W STEWART PROCESS AND MACHINE FOR REFRIGERATION Dec. 25 1923.

Dec. 25, 1923. 1,478,863

f W. STEWART PROCESS AND MACHINE FOR REFRIGERATION Filed May 16, 1921 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 25, 1923. l

yUNITED STATES YWILLIAM s'rEWAR'r, or roR-trLAND, MAINE.

PROCESS AND MACHINE FOR REFRIGERATION.

Appncanpn ined May 146,192.71. seria; No. 469,903.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM STEWART,

a citizen of -t-he United States, residing at Portland, in the `countyof Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Processes and Machines for Refrigeration, of which thefollowing is a specification. v

This invention relates toV refrigerating machines, having been designedmore par'- ticularly for the manufacture of blocks tof ice, althoughmany of .the principles thereof might be utilized gto condense outsolids by refrigeration from liquid or gaseous material, as, forexample, for the separation of` paraffin from oil or for fractionaldistillation or rectification. -In machines of this character where itis desired. to freeze water into solid blocks of ice, it has been foundnecessary in order to form clear ice to agitate the water -while it isbeing frozen to permit the .escape of occluded gases, or to employdistilledwater. It is also well known that as the ice is built up on thewalls of the container it forms a non-heat conducting layer `ofconstantly increasing thickness which causes the freezing to take placeat a constantly decreasing rate, this rate decreasing approximately asthe square of the thickness of the layer. As the losses by radiationandconduction from the exterior of the machine are practically constant andrepresent al large factor in operating costs, it is evident that theincreasing time required to freeze the block toward its center isaccompanied by a constantly decreasing effi.- ciency. It is thereforedesirable that the entire freezing operation take place as quickly aspossible consistent with other operating factors. time and to ensurethat clear blocks of ice may be made, this invention provides meanswhereby the water is applied to the interior of cells, the wallsl ofwhich are surrounded by a refrigerant, in such a manner that it ischilled lat the point of application so that it is not necessary foryall the heatpremoved in the freezing operation to pass through the icealready formed. For this purpose Awhen manufacturing ice and for otherpurposes when performing other operations, this invention makes use ofthe vacuum principle so .that the latent heat of vaporization Vof theliquid is made Vuse of to lower the temperature of the liquid as it is sapplied tothe interior Vwalls of the cells.

In order to decreasethe freezing This not only causes a marked chillingof the liquid but the presence of the vacuum also materially raises thetemperature of the freezing point in a manner well known. The sprayingof the liquid also allows the occluded gases to escape therefrom, thesegases vbeing removed by the mechanism for maintaining the vacuum.

In order to ensure the supplying of a sufficient quantity of liquid to.the walls of the cell so that it may not :be turned into a frost whichin casev of water would cause opaque ice to be formed, and at the lsametime to ensure that no body of liquid shall remain in the cell and besubject Only to surface evaporation, this invention provides means forspraying the liquid from beneath within the open end of the cell so thatthe excess liquid may drain from the lower end thereof down into thesupply tank, thus providing a continuous circulation therefor. Thisaction cools the entire body of liquid by the excess flow so that thereis no loss from this excess. As the cake or block is built up within thecell, the spray may be regulated to provide the proper amount of liquidand at the same time additional cooling sprays may be thrown intooperation so that the rate of cooling is maintained practically constantthroughout the formation of the cake. In order that'the cakes may bereadily removed from the cells, each cell is formed tapered, the smallerend thereof being positioned upwardly and the cells being held in fixedposition. A platform is movable upwardly to close the lower end of thecell, and when the cake has been formed it may be detached from thewalls of the cell by passing a heated fluid therearound in place of therefrigerant, and then lowering the platform, the cakes being loweredtherewith where they may be readily removed.

In refrigerating machines .employing a refrigerant circulation about thecells, some difficulty has been experienced from the refrigerantclinging to the walls of the cel-l, or occluded gases therein forming alayer thereagainst, which materially impairs the speed and efficiency ofheat abstraction. VIn order to overcome this difficulty, this yinventionprovides a construction of outer cell wall by which the refrigerant hasimparted thereto cross currents immediately adjacent the cell wall,which serve to agitato the current of refrigerant so that occluded gasesand warmer layers of refrigerant are not permitted to remain in contactwith the cell wall.

The vacuum in the cells is preferably maintained by means of a steamejector which may be operated, if desired, by the exhaust steam from theactuating power plant, and in connection therewith this inventionprovides a condenser of novel form, by the agency of which a high vacuumis easily maintainable.

he objects and advantages above enumerated, together with furtherobjects, advantageous details and combinations of parts will appear froma more complete description of an embodiment of this invention disclosedin the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a central verticalsection through the machine, the condenser being shown partly inelevation.

Figure 1a is a view similar to a. portion of Figure l but to a largerscale.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a View partly in vertical section of a cell.

Figure 5 is a vertical section through a spray nozzle and test rod.

Figure 6 is an end View of the same parts.

Figure 7 is an end view of a. sprayer.

Figure 8 is a sectional detail of a sealing joint.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 1, the cells in which theice or other solid is to be formed are positioned between a pair ofhorizontal plate members 1 and 2, having perforations therethrough forthe reception of the cells 3. Near their circumferences the plates 1 and2 are joined by means of a pair of concentric circular walls 4 and 5which form between them an annular space in which a vacuum may bemaintained, as will later appear, to serve as a non-heat conductingcasing. vWithin the wall 4 and surroundingr the cells 3 a refrigerantmay be circulated and for this purpose an impeller 6 is positionedcentrally of the machine at the lower end of a tube 7. This tube issupported from the plate 2 by means of a series of brackets 8 spacedapart to allow the passage of refrigerant therebetween. The impeller 6is driven by means of a shaft 9, which extends upwardly through arefrigerant supply pipe 10, through a stuffing box 11 at the end of thispipe, and through a bearing 12 at the upper end of which it carries abevel gear 13, by which it may be actuated by any suitable mechanism notshown. The impeller is driven in a direction to circulate therefrigerant, such as brine, downwardly through Vthe tube i and upwardlyaround the cells 3. The'pipe 10 for the refrigerant terminates at itsnpper end in a branch 14, through which either Ahot yor cold liquid maybe supplied, as'desired. In order to prevent the refrigerant or occludedgases therein from clinging tol the walls of cells 3, the walls of eachcell are provided with a plurality of series of relatively angularlydisposed external corrugations shown at 3 in Figure 4.V Thesecorrugations are disposed in herringbone change the layers thereof incontact withL the cell.

Positioned beneath the plate 2 is a down- Y wardly extending supportingcasing 16 having an outwardly turned lower flange portion 17. Thiscasing 16 is carried on a series of brackets 18 fixed to the upper endof posts 19 extendin downwardly to a; casing 20 forming t e base of themachine. vertically movable within the posts 19 is a table comprising aliquid supply tank for the cells 3 having a lower wall 21, an upper wall22 and a side wall 23. The lower wall 21 forms the upper side of apressure tank, the lower wall of which is shown at 24, and the side wallof which is indicated at 25. This table may be sealed against the loweredges of the casin 16 as follows. Surrounding the lower e ge of theliquid reservoir side wall 23 is a ring member 26 positioned oppositethe flange 17. This flange and the ring 26 have mating annular groovestherein for the reception of a pneumatic tube or air bag 27, as shownmore particularly in Figure 8, this tube having an air valve 28 by whichit may be inflated, extending upwardly therefrom. The outer edge of theplate 21 is upwardly turned at 29 to furnish a space between it and thering 26 and flange 17 for the reception of a liquid seal shown at 30.This table may be raised into sealing contact with the casing or loweredtherefrom. For this purpose, the l'ower plate 29 of this table has fixedthereto a plurality of cylinders 31 depending therefrom, which serve asguides for the upper ends of slotted plungers 32. These plungers havesplines 33 lpassed through their slots and engaging in the.

walls of the tubes 31, by which means the plungers are held fromrotation relative to the tubes, and they terminate at their lower endsat disc portions 34 between which and outwardly turned flanges 35 at theupper end. ofV the tubes 31 are coil springs 36.

The plungers 32 beneath the discs 34 are' project downwardly in threadedengage.- ment with a series of gears 38 j ournaled on the upper face ofthe casing 20. These gears mesh with a central gear 39 carried on ashaft 40 extending downwardly within the casing 20 where it has fixedthereto a bevel gear 41 meshing with a bevel pinion 42 carried by ashaft 43 projecting outwardly from the casing 2O where it may beprovided with an suitable means for turning the same, suc 1 vas a motorshown at 44. By actuation of this motor, it is evident that the gears 38may be turned to simultaneously raise and lower the screws 37 to bringthe table up into sealing engagement with the ring 16 or to lower thesaine to ward the casing 20. As shown in Figure 1, a foundation 45 forthe casing 2O has been provided, perforations 46 therein being made forthe reception of the lower end of the screws 37 when the table is inlowered position.

The spring supports for the table ensure that the table may be broughtup into sealing contact with the vacuum casing without probability ofinjury to the raising mechanism, while the seal comprising the pneumatictu'be and the liquid trough in which it is positioned eusures againstthe possibility of entrance of air when the machine is in operation.

This table, which, as above described, carries a pressure tank and aliquid supply tank, also carries mechanism by which the liquid may bepumped from the supply tank into the pressure tank, this mechanismcomprising a centrifugal pump, shown at 50 in Figure 1, driven by amotor 5l, the pump having a supply pipe 52 communicating with the supplytank and an outlet pipe 53 communicating with the pressure tank, thisoutlet pipe having a valve 54 therein for a purpose to be laterdescribed. The pipe 53 also has in communication therewith a pipe 55having a valve 56 therein, this pipe projecting upwardly outside of themachine casing and having a slidable fluid tight joint at 57 with avertically extending pipe 58, the purpose of which will 'be describedlater. The pipe 52 has a valve 52 therein and a pipe 59 communicating`with this pipe below the valve 52 extends downwardly and is intended tobe connected to a suitable liquid supply (not shown), from which thesupply tank may. be filled as occasion requires.

In order to spray liquid from the pressure tank into the cells, theplate 21 hasv fixed thereon a plurality of spraying nozzles 60 whichpass upwardly through the liquid in the supply tank and are incommunication through the plate 21 with liquid in the pressure tank. Theupper ends of these nozzles project toward perforations l61 formed inthe plate 22V which perforations are of somewhat larger diameter thanthe top of each content thereof.

spray nozzle. One nozzle is supplied for each cell 3 and is positionedto direct a spray Vof liquid vertically the-rein, the liquid runningdown the interior walls thereof and such as is not congealed beingcaught on the plate 22 and returned to the supply tank either throughthe openings 61 or around the outer edge of this plate.

The construction of each spray-nozzle is shown in detail in Figure 5. Itcomprises an outer casing 62 which passes downwardly through aperforation in the plate 21 and has fixed thereto at its upper end bymeans of a union 63 a nozzle element 64. This nozzle element isinternally screw threaded for the reception of a sprayer having spiral0r inclined iiutings 66 therein, which form passageways fort-he liquidto impart a rotary motion to the spray and to divide it finely. Thesprayer 65 is fixed within the nozzle element 64 by means of a set screw67 fit-ting in mating grooves in the sprayer and the nozzle element.Threaded in the sprayer 65 isa sleeve 68 terminating at its upper end ina tapered valve 69 which projects upwardly through the end of the nozzle64. The sleeve 68 is fixed to a tube 70 of considerably smaller diameterthan the tube 62 which passes downwardly through the supply chamber andthrough a stuffing box 71 carried on the lower face of the base plate24, this stuiiing box being provided with a tightening gland 72 and a.packing 73. This gland is pressed against the packing 73 by means of aseries of studs 74 having nuts 7 5 threaded on their lower end. Thesestuds have collars 7 6 formed thereon for retaining a bracket element 77which projects downwardly below the tube for a purpose to be laterdescribed. Intermediate the ends of this bracket is fixed a pointer 7 8projecting in proximity to an index mark 79 formed on the tube 70. Ahand wheel 8O is fixed adjacent the lower end to the tube 70 by whichthis tube may be turned to adjust the position of the element 69 withinthe nozzle. It is evident from this construction that the liquid underpressure may pass up around the pipe 7 0 within the slee-ve 62 andthence through the fiutings 66 and out through the nozzle element 64around the valve member 69, this construction forming in effect a needlevalve spray nozzle.

In order toprovide means for determining the rate of formation of thecongealed cake within the cell, a test rod shown at 81 is passed upthrough the tube 70 and the valve 69 and may be projected upwardly intothe cell until it contacts with the solid This rod 81 projects through astufhnoj box 82 on the lower end of the pipe 70 and has fixed at itslower end a lifting handle 83 accessible to manual actuation. When therod is in its lowered position, this handle rests on the lower end ofthe bracket arm 77, which is turned there under at 84 for this purpose.In order to provide a liquid seal for the joint. between the testing rod81 and the pipe 70, areceptacle made of rubber yor other suitablematerial is positioned `about `the rod 81, shown at 85, for containingwater extending upwardly toward the wheel 80.

In order to produce a vacuum in 'the cells the following construction isprovided. The Yplatev 1 is surmounted Vby a hood 90 made fast theretoabout its periphery', this hood having an upwardly extending flangedopening 91, to which may be attached a pipe leading to a vacuum pumpsystem, as will be described later. To ensure equalization of pressurebetween opposite ends of the cells, a plurality of equalizing pipesshown at 92 are positioned between the plates 1 and 2 and providepassageways between the upper portion of the machine beneath the domeand the liquid supply reservoir. As these connections might be shutoffby liquid freezing therein, supplemental 'equalizing pipes Vextendingthrough the sides of the dome 90 and the side plate 16 are shown at 93.These pipesare preferably provided with Valves 94 and one of lthesepipes carries brackets 95 by which the vertical pipe 58 before referredto may be held in position. An equalizing pipe 96 shown at the righthand side of Figure 1 connects the .space between walls 4 and 5 with theupper portio-n of the dome 90 to maintain a vacuum therein.

The upper ends of the cells 3 are open and positioned above the same andfixed to the plate 1 are a series of upwardly directed funnel shapedmembers 97 having baffles 98 positioned adjacent their upper ends. Thesebaffles prevent the liquid projected upwardly within the cells frompassing entirely through and above the plate 1 while permitting thevapors arising from the spray to pass outwardly. In order to condensethese vapors so as to increase the effectiveness of the vacuum producingmechanism, a system of spirally arranged coil pipes shown at 100 ispositioned thereabove. The inner ends of these spirals communicate witha pipe 101 surrounding and spaced from the pipe 1.0 so that therefrigerant after passing about the cells may flow upwardly through thisspace and through these spira-l coils, the outer ends of which open intoa pair of downwardly directed pipes 102 at diametrically opposite sidesof the machine. The spirals in the different sets connect alternatelywith opposite pipes 102. These pipes co-me together about the pipe 10 at103 and furnish a passage therearound into a casing 104, to which isattached an outlet pipe shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 at 105.

During the operation of the machine the vapors arising from the cellsare condensed and congealed on thePsp-iral pipes 100 and form frostthereon. ln order to remove this frost and at the same time to make uselof the low temperature thereof in cooling the supply liquid, the pipe58' above referred to the cells, the less volatile products arecondensed on the coils and in the equalizing pipe 92 and the morevolatile products carried off through the exhaust passage 91 by a vacuumpump.

As cells 3 become filled, the upper ends thereof are closed ofl' firstsince the cells are smaller at that point, and the cake is formeddownwardly. necessary to employ as heavy a spray from the nozzles 60 asthe cellsbecome filled and in order to effect a large area of spray fromwhich vapor may be condensed to cool the liquid a series of supplementalsprays within the supply tank have been indicated at 111. These spraysderive their supply from a pipe 112 which connects through a pipe 113 tothe outlet from the pump 50. This pump 50 may be encased in a liquidseal to has extensions indicated diagrammatr, cally 1n Figure 1,projecting downwardly lVhen It is therefore un` avoid the possibility ofair entering the machine from the various joints therein, such a sealbeing indicated at 114 and comprising a casing in which the pump isplaced, a supply pipe 115 having a funnel 116 at its outer end beingprovided for the purpose of supplying liquid thereto,

ln order to produce the vacuum in the machine the portion 91 of the domemay have attached thereto at 120 a steam ejector having a steam nozzle121 deriving its steam from any suitable source such as the exhaust froman engine or compressor in the power plant. This nozzle 121 entrains thevapors in a Venturi tube 122, from the end of which passes a pipe 123connecting to one end of an atomizer condenser. As shown moreparticularly in Figure 1, this condenser comshaft 128, this ring havingthereon a pair of series of oppositely directed varies 129 and 130. Thevanes 129 rotate in the plane of the openings 126 and serve tothoroughly mix the water passing therethrough with the steam and vaporsentering` through the pipe 123. The vapors 130 are oppositely directedto the vanes V129 and serve to mpel the mixed Water and vapors into theintake of a centrifugal pump 1311 by which they are removedtogether. Theshaft 128 carrying the impellers is also the shaft for the pump 131 andoutwardly of this pump this shaft is connected to al motor 132. The pumpand condenser may be mounted within a water seal comprising a casing 133supplied with water, to prevent leakage of air through the joints ofthis mechanism. When this 'machine is used for oil, the steam ejectorisV not suitable since it is desirable to condense the volatile productsin purey condition. A vacuum pump of other type is therefore necessaryvin place of the ejector and condenser above described.

After the machine has once been eX- bausted as by means of the nozzlesand Venturi tube to remove the air, it may not be found necessary tocontinue the operation of this mechanism, except occasionally to takecare of air leakage or as a teaser to increase the extent ofrarefaction, since the pipes 100 remove the vapor as formed v at thespray, reducing the pressure in the machine and causing furthervaporization. The coils then serve the double function `of causingvrapid vaporization and removing the Vapor as fast as formed while thelow temperature of the solidified vapor is employed by means of thesprays 110 to further cool the liquid. As the liquid remains in thesystem, the air is soon removed therefrom by initial operation of thevacuumproducing mechanism and therefore the entrance of air to themachine may be rendered very slow. This double function of coils 100 andthe method of operation permitted thereby are believed to be broadlynew.

From the above description it is seen that this invention provides ameans whereby the cells in which the ice or other solid is to becongeal'ed are chilled by the presence of a refrigerant circulatedthereabout, while the liquid to be conges-led is sprayed in a vacuumwhereby the coiigealin'g temperature is raised, the vaporsv arisingtherefrom beingV condensed to aid in the production of a high vacuum,andthe latent heatV of vaporizat'ion beingw used tolower theYtemperature of the liquid as itv applied to the 1nterior walls of thecell or' tothe layer of solid already congealed thereon. By this meansthe liquid is cooled at the point of contact witli thecongealedsiiiifaceso that cngelatiii" progresses at a lrapid rate.

`When this action is complete, the congealed cakes mayA be loosened fromthe cells by passing a heated liquid in place of the refrigerant andthen on lowering the table these blocks are allowed to descend therewithout of the lower ends of the cells in position where they may be readilyremoved for use.

Having thus described one embodiment of this invention, it should beevident to those skilled in the art that many changes and modificationsmight be made therein without departing from its spirit or scope asdefined by the appended claims.

1. The process of forming a congealed cake which consists in spraying aliquid upwardly in a refrigerating atmosphere from without into the openend of a container, permitting the uncongealed liquid to draintherefrom, and continuing the operation until the container issubstantially filled.

2. The process of forming a congealed cake which consists in spraying aliquid upwardly from without into the open end of a container whilemaintaining substantially' less than atmospheric pressure therein,permitting the uncongealed liquid to drain therefrom and continuing theoperation until the container is substantial-ly filled.

3. The process of forming a congealed cake which consists in spraying aliquid up` wardly from wi'thout into the open end of a container, whilemaintaining substantially less than atmospheric pressure therein andcooling the walls thereof, permitting the uncongealed liquid to draintherefrom, and continuing the operation until the container issubstantially filled.

1. The process of forming a congealed cake which consists in cooling thewalls of a container, spraying a liquid to be congealed from withoutinto said container in arefrigerating atmosphere, and continuing theoperation until the container is substantially filled.

5. The process of congealing a liquid which consists in continuouslycirculating a body of the liquid to be congealed, and sprayingsaidliquid at one portion of its path under reduced pressure conditions.

G. The process which consists in continuously circulating a body ofliquid, spraying said liquid at one portion of its path adjacent achilled surface, and removing the vapors produced by said spray.

7. The process which consists in continuously circulating a bodyofliquid, sprayingthe liquid at one portion of its path, removing thevapor produced by said spray to induce further vaporization and to chillthe liquid and congeal a portion thereof, and collecting the congealedportion.

8. In a' refrigerating machine, a container having external corrugationsthereon arranged at acutea-ngles'l `toene' of 'its dimensions, and meansfor circulating a refrigerant about said container in the generaldirection of said dimension.

erant upwardly about said container.

10. In a refrigerating machine, a container to be cooled havingcorrugations on its external surface arranged in herringbone formation,and means for directing refrigerant across said corrugations.

11. An apparatus comprising a cell, means for applying ai cooling fluidto the exterior of said cell, means for applying a reduced pressure inthe interior thereof, devices for providing a spray in the interiorthereof directed from the bottom of the cell, and a testing rod arrangedfor insertion into said cell.

12. In combination, a cell, a spraying nozzle for injecting a liquidinto the same to be congealed, and an independentlymovable'testing rodpassing through the spraying nozzle. i

13. An apparatus comprising an open ended cell, a spray nozzlepositioned to spray int-o said cell, and a testing rod passing throughsaid nozzle and movable to project into said cell.

14. An apparatus comprising-a cell open at its ends, means forcirculating a refrigerant about said cell, means for maintaining avacuum in said cell, and means outside said cell for spraying a liquidinto the cell at one end.

15. An apparatus comprising a cell open at its ends, means forcirculating a refrigerant about said cell, means for maintaining avacuum in said cell, means outside said cell for spraying a liquid intothe cell at one end, and means for equalizing the pressure at oppositeends of said cell.

16. An apparatus comprising a tank for a liquid, an open ended cell incommunication with said tank, means for spraying liquid from said tankthrough one end into said cell, and means for maintaining a vacuum insaid tank and cell.

17. An apparatus comprising a tank for a liquid, an open ended cell incommunication with said tank, means for spraying liquid from said tankthrough one end into said cell, means for maintaining a vacuum in saidtank and cell.l and a supplemental liquid sprayer in said tank.

18. An apparatus comprising a vertically movable table comprising atank, an up- Wardly tapered open ended cell supported above said table,means for producing a liquid spray from said tank into said cell,

and means for raising and lowering said.

table to and from the lower end of said cell. 1'9. An apparatuscomprising a cell, means for applying a cooling uid to the exterior ofsaid cell, means for applying a reduced pressure in the interiorthereof, devices for providing a spray to be congealed into a block inthe interior thereof, and a movable apparatus beneath the cell forsupporting the spraying devices land receiving the congealed blocks fromsaid cell.

20. An apparatus comprising a` cell, means for applying a cooling iuidto the exterior of said cell, means for applying a reduced pressure tothe interior of said cell, devices for providing a spray to be congealedinto a block in the interior thereof, a movable apparatus beneath saidcell for supporting the spraying devices and receiving the congealedblocks, and means for moving said apparatus comprising gears havingsprings interposed between the same and said apparatus.

21. In combination, a cell, means for congealing a liquid therein, aspraying nozzle adapted to be brought in proximity to the lower portionof said cell, a liquid supply tank through which the nozzle projects, aliquid pressure tank located adjacent the supply` tank and communicatingwith the nozzle, and means for supplying the liquid under pressure fromthe supply tank to the pressure tank.

22. In combination, a cell, means for congealing a liquid therein, aspraying nozzle adapted to be brought in proximity to the lower portionof the cell, a liquid supply chamber through which the spraying nozzleprojects, a liquid pressure tank located adjacent the liquid supply tankand communicating with the nozzle, means for supplying the liquid underpressure from the supply tank to the pressure tank, and means formoving` the nozzle and tanks to and from the cell.

23. In combination, an upwardly converging cell, and means for sprayingliquid into the bottom thereof /lcomprising a liquidir supply tankarranged within an opening through-which the spray is projected toreceive the drippings from the cell.

2a. In combination, a cell, and means for spraying a liquid into thebottom thereof comprising a liquid supply tank arranged with an openingthrough which the spray is projected to receive the drippings from thecell.

An apparatus comprising a vertically movable table, an upwardly taperedopen ended cell supported above said table, means for raising andlowering said table to and from the lower end of said cell, a liquidtank carried by said table, a spray nozzle, and means for forcing theliquid from said tank through said nozzle into said cell.

26. An apparatus comprising a vertically movable table, an upwardlytapered open ended cell supported above saidA table, means for raisingand lowering said table to and fr'om'the lower end of said cell, aliquid tank carried by said table, a spray nozzle, means for forcing theliquid from said tank through said nozzleinto said cell, and means formaintaining a vacuum in said cell-and tank When said table is at itsupper limit of movement.

27. An apparatus comprising a cell, means for cooling said cell, movableapparatus for receiving a congealed block from said cell, and aninflatable air bag for producing a tight joint between themovableapparatus and the cell.

28. An apparatus comprising a cell, means for cooling said cell, movableapparatus for receiving a congealed block from said cell, an inflatableair bag for producing a tight joint between the movable apparatus andthe cell, and a liquid seal for said joint.

29. An apparatus comprising a supply tank, a pressure tank, and a cell,means for forcing liquid from said supply tank to said pressure tank,and means permitting the How of liquid from said pressure tank to saidcell, the liquid being permitted to flow from said cell to said supplytank.

30. An apparatus comprising a supply tank, a pressure tank, and a cell,means for forcing liquid from said supply tank to said pressure tank,means permitting the flow of liquid from said pressure tank to saidcell, the liquid being permitted to flow from said cell to said supplytank, and means for producing a vacuum in said cell and above the liquidin said supply tank.

3l. An apparatus having a table comprising a supply tank and a pressuretank, means for forcing liquid from said supply tank to said pressuretank, a nozzle forming an outlet for said pressure tank, an open endedcasing, an open ended cell in said casing, means to move said table tobring it into and out of sealing engagement with the open end of saidcasing with said nozzle extending toward the open end of said cell, andmeans for maintaining a vacuum in said casing and cell When said tableis in sealing engagement with said casing.

An apparatus comprising a double walled casing, a cell in said casing,means to supply a liquid Within said cell, means to cool said cell, andmeans for maintaining a vacuum Within said cell and between the Walls ofsaid casing.

33. The process of producing a vacuum over a liquid which consists invaporizing the liquid and congealing the vapor.

84. An apparatus comprising a tank for a liquid, an open ended cell incommunication with said tank, means for spraying liquid from said tankthrough one end into said cell, means for exhausting vapors from saidtank and cell, and means for congealing said vapors as they are beine`exhaust-ed.

35. An apparatus comprising a cell in which liquid ma;7 be congealed,lmeans for spraying a liquid into said cell, and means for :removing andcongealing vapors produced by ysaid spray.

36. An apparatus comprising a cell in which liquid may be congealed,means for partially vaporizing a liquid inv said cell,

cell and kto induce further vaporization from said spray.

38. The method of freezing a liquid which comprises enclosing saidliquid in a chamber, preliminarily exhausting the air from said chamber,spraying the liquid into the interior of a congealing cell in saidchamber, and condensing and solidifying by a reduced temperature thevapor formed by said spray to maintain a low pressure in said chamberand cell and to induce further vaporization and to hold said condensedvapor from revaporization.

39. The method of freezing a liquid which comprises enclosing saidliquid in a chamber, preliminarily exhausting the air from said chamber,spraying the liquid against a cooled surface in said chamber, andcondensing the vapor formed by said spray on a cooled surface tomaintain a low pressure in said chamber and to induce furthervaporization from said spray.

a0. The method of freezing a liquid which comprises enclosing saidliquid in a chamber, preliminarily exhausting` the air from saidchamber, spraying the liquid against a cooled surface in said chamber,condensing and congealing the vapor formed by said spray to maintain alow pressurein said chamber, and to induce further vaporization fromsaid spray, and causing said congealed vapor to be introduced into saidliquid to further cool the liquid.

4l. The method of freezing` a liquid Which comprises spraying the liquidin a reduced pressure, to partially vaporize it, additionally coolingthe liquid sprayed to congeal a portion thereof, cooling the vaporizedportion to condense it and reduce the pressure at said spray to increasevaporization thereof and introducing said condensed vapor into saidliquid.

42. In a machine of the class described, a casing, an open ended cell insaid casing. means for spraying liquid into the open end of said cell,means for condensing vapor from said spray, and means for cooling theWalls of said cell and said condensing means.

43. In a machine of the class described, a casing, an open ended cell insaid casing, means for spraying liquid into the open end of said cell,means for condensing Vapor from said spray, means for cooling the Wallsof said cell and saidv condensing means, and means for exhausting saidcasing.

LM. An apparatus comprising an open ended cell, a spray nozzlepositioned to sprayinto said cell, and a testing rod passing throughsaid nozzle and axially movable, its outerend being accessible to anoperator for actuation and its inner end beingr projectable .into andWithdrawable from said cell.

In testimony whereof I have a-Hixed my signature.

WILLIAM STEWART. Y

